Mouton Rothschild forsakes paint for enamel

Château Mouton Rothschild has broken with tradition. For the first time in over 50 years, the château has not asked a famous painter to create a label for its newest released vintage.

Each year since 1945, bottles of the Bordeaux first growth have carried the original work of a celebrated painter on their labels – and become collector’s items. But for the newly-released 2000 vintage, château owner Baroness Philippine de Rothschild wanted to make the entire bottle a highly prized object (above).

An enamelled illustration of the gold-encrusted Augsburg Ram from the château’s own Museum of Wine in Art was chosen to replace the traditional label. The ram-shaped silver-gilt drinking vessel dates from the 16th century and is the Mouton emblem. It was applied in relief by glassmakers BSN using a technique specially developed for the purpose.

The bottle itself is made from heavy black glass, with screen-printed gold letting. This includes the trademark signature of Baroness Rothschild. A golden ring around the black foil reproduces the design engraved on the ram’s collar, and Château Mouton Rothschild is engraved in the base to guarantee authenticity.